Modular electrochemical machining apparatus

Abstract

An electrochemical machining apparatus is modular and includes a power module, an electrolyte processing module, an actuator module, and a control module that are connected with one another via a connection apparatus. The components are modular and are mounted on separate supports, many of which additionally include caster, and the connection apparatus is in the form of a removable umbilical. The modules can be individually moved to a location within a facility where a component is installed, and the modules can be interconnected to form the modular electrochemical machining apparatus at the location of the installed component. The apparatus can then perform an electrochemical machining operation in situ on the installed component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular electrochemical machining apparatus structured to be moved to a location within a facility where a component is installed and to perform an electrochemical machining operation on the component, the modular electrochemical machining apparatus comprising:
 a power module comprising a power supply and a first support, the power supply being situated on the first support;   an electrolyte apparatus comprising an electrolyte processing module, the electrolyte processing module comprising a fluid circulation system structured to carry and circulate a quantity of electrolyte material and a second support, at least a portion of the fluid circulation system being situated on the second support, the second support being separate from the first support;   a drive apparatus comprising an actuator module, the actuator module comprising an actuator and a third support, the third support being separate from the first support and the second support and being structured to be affixed to at least one of the component and another structure of the facility that is situated in proximity to the component, the actuator comprising a movable portion that is movable with respect to the third support between a first position with respect to the component and a second position with respect to the component as a part of the electrochemical machining operation;   a control apparatus in operative communication with the actuator; and   a connection apparatus structured to connect together the power module, the electrolyte apparatus, and the drive apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The modular electrochemical machining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drive apparatus further comprises an electrochemical machining electrode that is affixable to the movable portion and that is structured to moved thereby between the first and second positions, the electrochemical machining electrode being structured to be electrically connected with the power supply and being further structured to be in fluid communication with the electrolyte processing module. 
     
     
         3 . The modular electrochemical machining apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the drive apparatus further comprises a plurality of electrochemical machining electrodes that include the electrochemical machining electrode that each include an integral actuator and that are interchangeably affixable to the drive apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The modular electrochemical machining apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the connection apparatus comprises an electrical connection that includes at least a first electrical connector, the at least first electrical connector being disconnectably connected with one of the drive apparatus and the power supply to electrically connect together the electrochemical machining electrode and the power supply. 
     
     
         5 . The modular electrochemical machining apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the connection apparatus further comprises a fluid connection that includes at least a first fluid connector, the at least first fluid connector being disconnectably connected with one of the electrolyte apparatus and the drive apparatus to connect together in fluid communication the fluid circulation system and the electrochemical machining electrode. 
     
     
         6 . The modular electrochemical machining apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the electrolyte apparatus further comprises an electrolyte collector that is structured to collect at least a portion of a flow of the electrolyte after is has been in physical contact with the component, the electrolyte collector being connectable in fluid communication with the fluid connection. 
     
     
         7 . The modular electrochemical machining apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the actuator is electrically connected with the electrical connection to disconnectably electrically connect together the actuator and the power supply 
     
     
         8 . The modular electrochemical machining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electrolyte apparatus further comprises an electrolyte collector that is structured to collect at least a portion of a flow of the electrolyte after it has been in physical contact with the component, electrolyte collector being connectable in fluid communication with the fluid circulation system. 
     
     
         9 . The modular electrochemical machining apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control apparatus comprises:
 a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a storage; 
 an input apparatus structured to provide input signals to the processor apparatus; 
 an output apparatus structured to receive output signals from the processor apparatus; 
 the storage having a number of routines stored therein, the routines being executable on the processor and being structured to cause the actuator to move the movable portions between the first and second positions; 
 a user interface comprising at least a portion of the input apparatus and at least a portion of the output apparatus, the least portion of the input apparatus being structured to provide a number of input signals to the processor apparatus responsive to a number of user inputs, the least portion of the output apparatus being structured to provide at least one of a number of visual outputs and a number of audible outputs responsive to receiving a number of output signals from the processor apparatus; 
 a first transceiver electrically connected with at least the drive apparatus; 
 a second transceiver electrically connected with the user interface; and 
 the first and second transceivers being structured to be in communication with one another.